Extracellular DNA in the environment: interactions between plant species and microbes

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

There are many interactions between plants and microbes in the soil environment. One of these interactions involves the release of extracellular DNA (eDNA) by plants and other organisms and its utilization by soil microbes. Microbes use eDNA as a nutrient source or as novel genetic information through uptake of foreign DNA via natural transformation. Natural transformation is an important evolutionary mechanism in microbes. Plants play a significant role in shaping the microbial community in soil and the release of genetically-engineered crops and other organisms has provided the impetus to better understand the behaviour of eDNA in the environment. eDNA can persist in the soil environment for several years by adsorption to the soil matrix. Adsorbed eDNA retains the ability to be transformed while avoiding degradation and use as a nutrient. Much of this has been determined in microcosms, however, given their extent, it is pertinent to understand the dynamics of eDNA within agricultural systems. Future genetically-engineered crops will include genes producing a range of traits including pharmaceuticals and stress tolerance. To this end, a series of field studies and laboratory experiments are being conducted to better understand the occurrence and persistence of eDNA in annual and perennial crops that have not been studied before. In addition, research is being initiated to study the response of soil microbes to eDNA as a nutrient source and to investigate the importance of soil microbes and soil aggregation on the dynamics of eDNA in the soil environment. The outcome of this research will improve the understanding of the dynamics of eDNA in agricultural systems. Knowledge of the fate of transgenes in the soil environment in agricultural systems will improve public trust in modern food production systems. In addition, findings from this research may lead to methods to manage eDNA in the environment.